The Catholic Standard & Times - Vietnamese community celebrates 30 years in Philadelphia

Vietnamese community celebrates
30 years in Philadelphia

By Le Thi Nguyen
Special to The CS&T

Religion plays an important role in the life of the Vietnamese — the Catholic faith is one of many religions that the communist government at Hanoi restricted in practice after the French withdrew and Vietnam was partitioned by the Geneva Accords of 1954.

Many Vietnamese escaped North Vietnam to relocate in South Vietnam for religious freedom in 1954-55, and again, after the communists gained control there in 1975, another large group of Vietnamese left Vietnam specifically to seek religious and political freedom elsewhere. The Vietnamese community was scattered throughout the world, including the Philadelphia area where, upon arrival, the refugees were sheltered at Indiantown Gap for a temporary period to prepare for permanent relocation.

Catholic Social Services was among the social-service agencies that helped resettle the new refugees from Vietnam in this area.

Under the guidance and support of the late Cardinal John Krol, and through the efforts of the late Father Anthony Vu Nhu Huynh, the Vietnamese Catholic community was established and able to celebrate the Vietnamese Mass, at its main location — St. Francis De Sales in Southwest Philadelphia.

Throughout the region, seven small groups were gradually established in local parishes to enable the elderly and non English-speaking to practice their faith according to their customs and culture.

Many young Vietnamese men have been ordained to the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The Archdiocese has always been a great support to the Vietnamese community, and Cardinal Justin Rigali has continuously expressed his interest and support in helping the community to grow in faith, love and hope.

The Vietnamese Catholic community continues to grow in both faith and number — with a sense of unity and community as its main focus. We were proud to celebrate our 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Community at the great feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs.

At this special feast, we honored those Vietnamese who lived exceptional lives, planting and nurturing the seeds of faith during the persecution, and who have been an example to our generation, helping us to remain strong in our faith and able to deal with adversity in any shape and form.

Auxiliary Bishop Robert Maginnis celebrated the anniversary Mass on Sunday, Nov. 26, at St. Helena Church in Philadelphia.

The Mass brought together for the first time members from all seven of the areas where the Vietnamese people originally settled in Philadelphia.

Additionally, Msgr. Joseph Trinh Minh Tri, pastor of St. Helena Church, was recently elected president of the Vietnamese Catholic community for the capital zone (including five states in the area).

Le Thi Nguyen is a parishioner at St. Helena in Philadelphia.